Search News

News

Royal Cork Yacht Club helms won both the senior and junior divisions of the Joe Duffy BMW Optimist Connacht Championships hosted by Malahide Yacht Club, with the honours going to Douglas Elmes and James McCann respectively.

Sailed on the Broadmeadows on behalf of the International Optimist Dinghy Association of Ireland, the event attracted an entry of 130 boats which included 30 entries in the Regatta Fleet. In light to moderate, shifting southerlies, Race Officer Neil Murphy and his team successfully completed the full schedule of six races.

In the Senior Division, Douglas Elmes counted two wins, two seconds and a third to take the Connacht title by five points from clubmate Ronan Cournane while two other RCYC helms, Harry Durcan and his brother Johnny, filled the next two places.

The Junior Division had a large 75-boat turn-out and the eventual (Gold Fleet) winner James McCann only had two points to spare over runner-up Peter Fagan of the National YC, while only one point separated Alix Buckley (Skerries) in third place from Loghlen Rickard (National YC) in 4th.

*** *** ***
Malahide Yacht Club has announced that the Optimist Connacht Championship which it is hosting on behalf of the International Optimist Dinghy Association of Ireland on September 8th & 9th is to be sponsored by Joe Duffy, Ireland’s leading BMW dealer, with additional support from TGI Fridays.

The two-day event, being run at the Club’s recently re-built Dinghy Sailing Centre at the Broadmeadows, is expected to attract over 100 entries and Principal Race Officer Neil Murphy and his team will set the courses for the 6-race series.

“Our new facility and re-organised dinghy pen layout means we are fully geared to handle an event of this stature,” said MYC’s Dinghy Sailing Secretary Garrett Donnelly, “and with the support of our sponsors, we will have a memorable event for participants and their families.”

Speaking on behalf of Joe Duffy, Marketing Manager Alan Gilligan commented: “We are pleased to be associated with competitive sporting events at a local level and have done so throughout our 40-year history. We greatly look forward to playing our part during the championship.”

Entries for the Joe Duffy BMW Optimist Connacht Championship are anticipated from all four provinces by the event organisers.